Click here if you would like to receive the minutes by mail.

Click here if you would like to receive the minutes by e-mail.

April 3, 2007

The Lee County Board of Supervisors met on Tuesday, April 3, 2007 at 9:00 A.M., at the North Lee County Office Building in Fort Madison.

Present: Ernie Schiller, Rick Larkin, Larry Kruse, George Morgan and Bob Woodruff

All votes are unanimous unless otherwise indicated.

Moved by Larkin, seconded by Morgan, to approve the Tuesday, March 27, 2007 board minutes. Motion carried.

Moved by Woodruff, seconded by Morgan, to approve the following appointment of four reserve officers for the Sheriff’s Department: Donald Davis, David Ackland, Jamie Wrieden and Matthew Killoren. Motion carried.

Norma Poland, representing the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Lee County, asked the Board to recognize April as Child Abuse Awareness Month. Moved by Schiller, seconded by Larkin, to approve the following proclamation:

PROCLAMATION FOR LEE COUNTY

Whereas, Iowa’s Children are one of the most precious resources in our state and provide the hope for a brighter tomorrow in Iowa:

Whereas, protecting children is everyone’s business and we can promote and support safe, healthy families in our community through partnering to protect children:

Whereas, child abuse is a community issue and find solutions depends on involvement and partnerships among people throughout the community:

Whereas, effective child abuse prevention succeeds because of partnerships created between parents, practitioners, schools, faith communities, health care organizations, law enforcement agencies, community leaders, politicians, and the business community:

Whereas, all citizens need to be more aware of child abuse and neglect and its prevention within the community, and be involved in supporting parents to raise their children in a safe, nurturing society:

Whereas, public awareness regarding child abuse and neglect is encouraged by Prevent Child Abuse Iowa and the Child Abuse Prevention Council of Lee County:

Therefore, I, Larry W. Kruse, Chairman, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2007, as Child Abuse Prevention month in Lee County, and urge all citizens, community agencies, religious organizations, medical facilities, and businesses to partner in efforts to prevent child abuse and neglect, thereby strengthening the communities in which we live.

Dated this 3^rd day of April 2007.

Lee County Board of Supervisors. /s/ Larry W. Kruse, Chairman, /s/ Robert J. Woodruff, Vice Chairman, /s/ Rick Larkin, Member, /s/ George Morgan, Member, /s/ Ernest Schiller, Member. Attest: /s/Anne Pedersen, Lee County Auditor. Motion carried.

There were no Citizen Comments.

Moved by Schiller, seconded by Morgan, to approve the following amended resolution:

RESOLUTION #2007-46 Amended

RESOLUTION OF THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

RESOLUTION PROVIDING FOR TAX ABATEMENT

WHEREAS, the City of Keokuk acquired certain properties located at 815 Concert Street, 1123 Blondeau Street, and 402 South 7^th Street, deeded to the “Keokuk Historic Preservation Commission”; and

WHEREAS, the “Keokuk Historical Preservation Commission” is a duly authorized commission of the City of Keokuk pursuant to chapter 2.70 of the Keokuk Municipal Code and it is accordingly an agency or commission of city government and as such is tax exempt; and

WHEREAS, the Keokuk Historic Preservation Commission acquired these properties for purposes of salvage and/or rehabilitation as part of a City endorsed and supported program to salvage and rehabilitate abandoned structures with additional endorsement and support from the Energy & Waste Management Bureau of the Iowa DNR. The City may have token tax liability under section 427.18 which provides:

The property which may be exempt from taxation is acquired after July 1 by a person or the state or any political subdivision, the exemption shall not be allowed for that fiscal year and the person or the state or its political subdivision shall pay property taxes levied against the property for that fiscal year, and payable in the following fiscal year….

WHEREAS, section 445.63 provides in its material part:

When taxes are owing against a parcel owned or claimed by the state or political subdivision of this state and the taxes owed before the parcel was acquired by the state or political subdivision of the state, the county treasurer shall give notice to the appropriate governing body which shall pay the amount of taxes due. If the governing body fails to immediately pay the taxes due, the Board of Supervisors shall abate all of the taxes.

WHEREAS, the Board of Supervisors is advised that the taxes owed on the three properties are as follows:

815 Concert Street, from the 2006/2007 tax year, $ 245;

1123 Blondeau Street, from the 2006/2007 tax year, $ 595;

402 South 7^th Street, from March 2004 through March 2007, $ 3,682;

and part or all of these taxes have been erroneously assessed against the tax exempt entity, the City of Keokuk or, in the case of 402 South 7^th Street, against the tax exempt entity, Lee County.

NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that taxes presently owing on parcel numbers 310 000 044521252650060, 310 000 044521252530020, and 310 000 044521253820120 be and are hereby abated. The Treasurer shall strike the amounts due from the county system. Any and all sums to be paid for the 2007-2008 tax year are likewise abated, so long as the property continues to be owned by the city of Keokuk.

Dated at Fort Madison, Iowa this the 3^rd day of April 2007.

Moved by Larkin, seconded by Morgan, to approve the following resolution:

RESOLUTION #2007-51

RESOLUTION OF THE LEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

WHEREAS, Lee County owns property at 2729 Avenue K in Fort Madison and legally described as:

Lots numbered thirty-one (31) and thirty-two (32) in block number thirteen (13), Fairgrounds addition to the City of Fort Madison, Lee County, Iowa, together with all improvements thereon;

and

WHEREAS, Lee County has received a request to buy this property from two or more individuals.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that Lee County will receive sealed bids as follows: The bids should be in a sealed envelope addressed to the Lee County Board of Supervisors, P. O. Box 488, Fort Madison, IA 52627 and clearly marked on the outside of the envelope “sealed bid 2729 Avenue K, Fort Madison”.

All bids will be for a quit claim deed. The bid should clearly state the amount of the bid.

Together with any bid the bidder must submit a check made payable to the Treasurer of Lee County in the amount of $100 as earnest money. If the bidder is not a successful bidder that check will be returned.

A bid must include the name, address and telephone number of the bidder, a statement of how the bidder wishes to take deed (individually, as joint tenants or as tenants in common).

All bids must be received by the 30^th day of April 2007 at 3:00 o’clock p.m.

The Board reserves the right to reject any and all bids. The Board reserves the right to waive deficiencies or irregularities.

The Board Secretary should send a copy of this Resolution to all adjoining property owners and arrange for publication of notice.

The issue of the approval of the sale of this real estate to the highest bidder will be set for a public hearing on the 1^st day of May 2007 at 9:02 o’clock a.m. Bids will be opened immediately following the Public Hearing in the Board Room at 933 Avenue H, Fort Madison, Iowa. Appropriate notice of that will be published in not less than four (4) nor more than twenty (20) days prior to the date and time fixed for public hearing.

The Board authorizes the Board Chairman Larry Kruse to sign any and all quit claim deeds on behalf of the Board.

Dated and signed at Fort Madison, Iowa on this the 3^rd day of April 2007.

Moved by Schiller, seconded by Larkin, to approve the following resolution:

RESOLUTION # 2007-52

BE IT RESOLVED this 3^rd day of April 2007 the appointment of the COUNTY COMPENSATION COMMISSION IN EMINENT DOMAIN.

REALTORS:

Sara Arthur Fort Madison

Sandy Steffen Fort Madison

George Sargent Argyle

Mary Lee Morris Fort Madison

Karen Hope Fort Madison

Daniel B. Fraise Fort Madison

Cynthia Otte Fort Madison

Corey Fraise Fort Madison

OWNERS OF CITY/TOWN PROPERTY:

Jack Norton Fort Madison

Richard Bryant Keokuk

Don Lucas Fort Madison

Joyce Burton Fort Madison

Gordon Huston Keokuk

John Swan Keokuk

Tami Stuekerjuergen Fort Madison

Joyce Glasscock Keokuk

FARMERS:

Larry Lang Donnellson

Steve Newberry Argyle

Dave Houston Wever

Chris Lindner Keokuk

Harry Mabeus Wever

Isla Lachmann Fort Madison

BANKERS:

D. Todd Edwardson Keokuk

Philip Ingebritson Fort Madison

R.H. Winnike West Point

Dale Krogmeier Fort Madison

Arch Logan Keokuk

Laurie Breen Wever

Moved by Woodruff, seconded by Schiller, to approve the following resolution for Robert Lee Borders:

RESOLUTION #2007-53

A RESOLUTION FINDING THAT LEE COUNTY MEETS THE URBAN REVITALIZATION AREA DESIGNATION CRITERIA OF SECTION 404.1, CODE OF IOWA, AND THAT THE DEVELOPMENT AND/OR REDEVELOPMENT, OR A COMBINATION THEREOF IS NECESSARY IN THE INTERESTS OF THE PUBLIC HEALTH, SAFETY, OR WELFARE OF THE RESIDENTS OF THE COUNTY.

WHEREAS, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 404 of the Code of Iowa, the Board of Supervisors may, by ordinance, designate an area of the County as a Revitalization Area for the purpose of granting property tax exemptions for improvements to properties; and,

WHEREAS, the process of designating an area as a Revitalization Area requires that the County Supervisors follow certain statutory procedures, including the adoption of a resolution finding that the development and/or redevelopment, or a combination thereof of the area is necessary in the interest of the public health, safety, or welfare of the residents of the County and the area meets the criteria of Section 404.1; and,

WHEREAS, Lee county, Iowa, has been determined to meet the conditions of Section 404.1 due to lack of investment and the opportunity to influence its growth by stimulating investment from the private sector.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of Supervisors of Lee County, Iowa, that:

1. The facts stated above in the preamble are a true and correct statement of the conditions in Lee County and of the necessity of its designation as a Revitalization Area.

2. The entire unincorporated areas of Lee County is an eligible Revitalization Area under the criteria of Section 404.1, Code of Iowa.

3. The development and/or redevelopment, or combination thereof of the area legally described as the entire area within the unincorporated boundaries of Lee County, Iowa is necessary in the interests of public health, safety, and welfare of the residents of Lee County, Iowa.

4. There has been prepared a Revitalization Plan for Lee County and an ordinance designating the area within the unincorporated boundaries of Lee County, Iowa as a Revitalization Area for consideration by the Board of Supervisors.

PASSED AND APPROVED this 3^rd day of April 2007.

New Business: Supervisor Morgan stated that the Veteran’s Affairs Commission may be approaching the Board in the future with a request to use budgeted funds to lease a van for transporting veterans to the Veteran’s Hospital in Iowa City.

Committee Reports: Supervisor Schiller attended a RUSS meeting on March 28, 2007. He gave an update on the Argyle Sewer Project. He also attended a Lee County Library Board meeting on Thursday, March 29, 2007. Supervisor Larkin attended an Iowa Workforce Development meeting on Monday, March 26, 2007. Supervisor Morgan and Chairman Kruse will be attending the Tri-State Summit on Wednesday, April 4, 2007 at Culver Stockton College in Canton, Missouri. Chairman Kruse reported that the Citizen Advisory Board for the jail expansion would tour the jail on Thursday, April 5, 2007 at 9:30 A.M.

Moved by Morgan, seconded by Schiller, to approve the claims for payment. Motion carried.

Approved a Class C Liquor License renewal application for Big Al’s Bar and Grill, Argyle.

With no further business, Chairman Kruse adjourned the meeting at 9:31 A.M. The next meeting of the Board will be Tuesday, April 10, 2007 at 9:00 A.M. at the North Lee County Office Building in Fort Madison.

/s/Larry W. Kruse, Chairman

Attest: /s/Anne Pedersen, Lee County Auditor